Fence-wire clamp for fence stretchers



Jul 8, 1924. 1/500309 W. L. GOLDSTON:

FENCE WIRE CLAMP FOR FEN E s rnm'cmms Filed April 15, 1922 grwe'n hz WL aidsZwg.

L- I attorney Patented July 8, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILEY L. common, or oUEBEoK, TENNESSEE.

FENCE-WIRE CLAMP FOR FENCE STRETCHERS.

Application filed April 15, 1922. Serial No. 552,987.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, \VILEY L. GoLDs'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quebeck, in the county of White and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Tire Clamps for Fence Stretchers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In fence wire clamps for fence stretchers heretofore used the clamping members are constructed of metal. and the jaws are therefore very likely to cut or weaken the wires of the fence to such an extent as to cause the wires to eventually break. Furthermore in the clamps heretofore used there are no means for adjusting the hinge connections between the two clamp jaws therefore affording no way for taking up the slack, so as to cause the jaws to properly cooperate for a firm clamping action on a wire. Also these former devices do not include means whereby the wire fence can be stretched more at the top than at the bottom and vice versa, thereby preventing fence wire mesh from being properly hung on the post. when erecting a fence down or uphill, that is to say, where the incline starts.

It is, therefore, the purpose of this invention to obviate these disadvantages, and yet at the same time to provide a clamp, which is very simple, efficient and practical in construction, and may be produced for a relatively low cost. I

In the present construction of clamp, the opposite clamping members or jaws are constructed of suitable hard Wood or similar material, which will enable the jaws to have a secure clamping action on the fence wire, and yet at the same time will not injure the same to an extent that'will cause it to eventually break.

Still another purpose is the provision of hooks and eyes carried by the clamping members for hingedly connecting them, in combination with means whereby the hooks and eyes can be adjusted relatively to each other and to the jaws, not only to cause them to align perpendicularly, that is to say, where they engage each other, but also for the purpose of taking'upthe slack, so that the jaws may come securely together, when clamping the fence wire.

A further purpose is the provision of opposed brackets on the clamping members, in which the ends of a chain are adjustable, so

that the top of the fence may be stretched more than the bottom of the fence and vice versa. To insure stretching the bottom of the fence greater than the top, the jaws are provided with rings, to which a second chain can be connected, in order to create a greater pulling action on an end of the clamp, when erecting the fence uphill.

It is to beunderstood that the particulars herein given are in no way limitative and that while still keeping within the scope of the invention, any desired modifications of detail and desired proportions may be made in the apparatus according to circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the'drawings:-

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the improved clamp constructed in accordance with the invention, and showing the same as connected to wire fence material, whereby it may be stretched;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailperspective view of one of the clamps with its jaws sep-. arated from'the other;

Figure 4: is a view in elevation of the clamp, showing how the jaws are hingedly united. r

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 designate a pair of clamp jaws, which are. substantially identical in construction. Each jaw comprises an elongated angle bar or member, which may be any suitable length or thickness, and constructed of any suitable material, preferably hard wood. One

face of each jaw is provided with a channel or rabbet 3, and passing through the outer flange of one jaw and arranged in superim-' posed positions are eye-bolts 4, there being nuts 5 upon the oppositeends of the bolts, for the purpose of holding and adjusting them in place. The eyes 6 of the bolts are designed to be axially aligned.

A plurality of hook bolts pass through the outer flange of the other jaw, and mounted upon these bolts 7 are nuts 8, which are designed for the purpose of adjusting the bolts and holding them in position. The hooks 9 of the bolts are aIso axially aligned, so as to enter the eyes 6 ofthe other bolts, in order to hingedly connect the two jaws. It will be noted that by imparting a longitudinal movement to the jaws in opposite directions, they may be separated, and on a similar reverse movement, they may be again hingedly connected. It will be noted that when I clamping fence wire mesh work, the eye and hook bolts pass through the wire mesh work, thereby additionally holding the mesh work in position and preventing it from being pulled from between the jaws.

Bolted to the remote side faces of the jaws by certain of the eye and hook bolts are i such as a lever illustrated in Figure 1, or by means of a pull block (not shown), whereby a pulling action may be imparted to the chain. The greater the pulling action on the chain the more secure the jaws will engage the fence wire mesh work, and the tighter the mesh work may be drawn. The rings at the ends of the chain may engage with the notches, so that the top of the fence may be stretched more than the bottom of the fence and vice versa.

Secured to the remote side faces of the jaws adjacent their lower ends by the low ermost hook and eye bolts are plates 15 having eyes 16, in which rings 17 are mounted.

' An aditional chain 18 may be connected to the rings 17, so that by attaching the chain to any suitable pulling or operating means, the lower part of the fence may be stretched considerably greater than the upper part of the fence, when it it desired to erect a fence on an incline or the side of a hill. Instead of connecting the chains 1% and 18 to the rings 13 and 17 in the manner shown, a sin gle chain (not shown) may be made in a loo-p at one end, said loop to engage the rings 13 and 17 of each jaw, whereby upon attaching a pulling device to the single end of the chain, the jaws may be drawn together, and the fence stretched, equally as well as with two chains. It is obvious that a double chain (not shown) may be used to be connected to the rings for stretching the fence, and causing the clamping action of the jaws.

One of the advantages of this clamp is that in putting it on and taking it off the fence, there are no nuts to take off or put on. The hooks and eyes slip together without any trouble.

Similar rings to those at the bottom of the clamp may be arranged adjacent the top of the clamp, for urging a greater pulling action on the top of the fence than at the bottom.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is A wire stretcher clamp comprising a pair of elongated rigid clamping jaws rearwardly extending U shaped brackets fixed to the outer sides of the jaws midway between the ends thereof and embodying relatively long central portions extending parallel with the jaws and having notches in their inner edges, and rings releasably engageable in desired ones of said notches and constructed for connection with a pull ing mechanism whereby the pulling stress may be exerted in a plane at either side of the transverse center of the clamp.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix nov signature.

WILEY L. GOLDSTON. 

